Rail-fastening.



D. RYAN.

RAH. FASTENING.

APPLICATION men JUNE 10. 29:8.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

DENNIS RYAN, or SALT, LAKE CITY, UTAH.

RAIL-FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 191.8.

Application filed June 10, 1918. Serial No. 239,191.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DENNIS RYAN, a citi-' zen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of SaltLake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rail fastening devices, and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a rail fastening device which will serve to positively prevent creeping, spreading or other undue movement of rails engaged thereby and which can be easily and quickly attached to the rails without the use of spikes or similar fastening devices.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide the device with a novel form of joint whereby to receive and effectually secure the abutting rail ends against undue movement.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The improvements in the details and arrangement of parts will be apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in connection with the specific description hereinafter contained, and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of in'iparting a full understanding of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan of a railway track wherein the rails-thereof are secured by my improved fastening devices,

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on a line 3--3 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail in perspective of a portion of the rail base showing the manner in which the same is formed when engaged by the improved fastening devices.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like reference characters will designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 7 designates the several rails of the track, which rails receive thereunder the base plates 1 and 2 of the fastening devices, said plates having rail base engaging arms 8 formed integral therewith, while portions of the same are formed with slots to permit the connection of clamping arms at therewith,

which arms, as will be understood, are apertured and receive bolts 5 therethrough having nuts turned into engagement with their screw threaded extremities. Apertured extensions 6 and 7 are formed integral with the inner sides of the base plates 1 and 2, and, as will be noted, are arranged at substantially right angles thereto to permit engagement of the same and the fastening of locking bolts. 8 therethrough. Obviously, by forming the extensions 6 and 7 with a series of apertures, the same can be adjusted to tracks varying in width and positively connected by passing the bolts 8 through the alined openings in said extensions 6 and 7.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a second form of the fastening device, this particular embodiment being designed for effecting a positive joint between the abutting ends of the rails, such as indicated in Fig. l, and to prevent longitudinal or transverse movement of the rails so secured. The fastening device in this particular form comprises base plates 9 and 10, the plate 10 being of greater width than the plate 9 and serving to receive the abutting ends of the rails 7 thereon. A rail base engaging arm 11 is formed on one portion of the base plate 9 while a similar arm 12 is formed on the base plate 10 and, obviously, is of greater width than the arm 11. Clamping arms 13 and'let are provided, the clamping arm 13 having a laterally extending apertured portion 15 which is adapted to receive a connecting bolt 16 therethrough, said bolt passing through an alined opening formed in the adjacent portion of the base plate 9. In this connection it is to be noted that the lateral portions of the clamping arms t and 13 are arranged in recessed portions or seats formed in their respective base plates and, consequently, shifting of the same will be positively prevented when they are once engaged by their respective looking or connectin bolts. The clamping arm 14 is provided with a series of slots in the upper portion thereof which are alined with other slots formed in the web portions of the abutting rails and in the clamping arm 12, which slots receive connecting bolts l7therethrough for an obvious purpose. It is to be understood, that by forming slots in the clamping arms 12 and 14s, movement of the abutting rail ends will be permitted upon expansion or contraction thereof. However, such movement will not serve, in any way, to loosen the connection between the rails and the fastening device engaged therewith. An apertured extension 18 is formed on the inner side of the base plate 10 and is" received Within the bifurcated 'end 19 of an arm 20 Which arm is provided vvith a series of openings adapted to be alined with similar openings formed in an extension 21 extending from the inner portion of the base plate 9 and arranged at substantially right angles theretd Bolts are passed through the alined openings in the extensions and serve to efi ect a secure connection therebetiveein which connectiom it c csired, can be adjusted to permit the adaption of the fastening device to tracks varying in Width. A pivot bolt 23 is passed through alined openings formed in the bifurcated end 19 and in the extension 18, thus serving to pivotallg' connect the extension 20 to said base plate 1G thus, facilitating the engagement ot' the fastening device with the rails.

To positively prevent undue movement of the lower end of the clamping arm 1%, elongated notches 2 may be and preferably are formed in the adjacent portions of the bases of the rails '2' and are adapted to be alined with slots El formed in said clamping arm whereby toipernrit the passage of spikes or suitable fastening devices therethrough into engagement with the tie or other bed receiving the fastening device.

From the foregoing it Will be readily'understood by persons skilled in the art that I have provided an exceedingly efiicient and simple form of fastening devices for rails ivhereb all undue movement of the rails *ith relation to each other will be positively prevented but which vvill allow the rails to adjust themselves upon expansion. and contraction Furthermore the fastening devices, by reason 01 their construction, can be used in connection with tracks varying in width, thus rendering the same es ecially desirable in connection with temporary railway engineering operations.

I, or course, desire to have it understood that E do not confine the invention to the particular embodiments chosen for illustration herein, nor to the exact constructioin arrangement, and adoption of parts shown and described, but I reserve the right to make any changes and alterations that clearly tall "Within the spirit and scope of the intention.

I claim: 7

1. A rail t stening device including rail receiving means, a rigid apertured extension on the inner portion of one of said rail receiving means, a second apertured extension hinged for horizontal movementto the inner portion 01"" the remaining rail receiving means, and means'tor adjnstably connecting said extensions.

2. it rail fastening device including base plates, rail base engaging arms on said plates a rigid aperturcd extension carried on the inner portion of one of said baseplates, a second apertnred extension hinged to the inner portion of the remaining base plate and means tor adjustably connecting said extensions.

3. A rail fastening device including baseplates, rail. base engaging arms formed integral with said plates, portions of said base plates being recessed to form seats, rail base clamping arms engaged. in said seats, an entension rigidly carried on the inner portion of one ol said base plates, a second extension pivotalb connected to the inner portion of the remaining base plate, and means for adjust? I y connecting said extensions.

In testimom whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

DENNIS RYAN. 

